FAA Selects K-State Salina To Test UAV Certification Standards | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Thu, Oct 10, 2013

FAA Selects K-State Salina To Test UAV Certification Standards

MoA Signed Between The Agency And The University August 29

The FAA has selected Kansas State University Salina to test certification standards for small unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS. Under a memorandum of agreement signed by the university and the FAA on Aug. 29, K-State Salina will validate industry standards for small unmanned aircraft systems ... systems typically weighing 55 pounds or less ... set by the F38 technical committee of ASTM International. K-State Salina will use its own unmanned aircraft systems using the standards to apply for airworthiness certification.

Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International is a globally recognized leader in the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards. "Determining the airworthiness of small UAS is a critical steppingstone to commercial flight operations of UAS, and K-State is thrilled to be leading the way in certifying today's unmanned systems for tomorrow's commercial applications," said Mark Blanks, unmanned aircraft systems program manager at K-State Salina.
 
"This project is of national importance in that this could well be the first small UAS to obtain an FAA airworthiness certificate for routine operations in our national airspace system here in the lower 48," said Kurt Barnhart, professor and head of the department of aviation and executive director of the university's Applied Aviation Research Center at K-State Salina.
 
"This airworthiness certificate would likely be a 'restricted' airworthiness certificate similar to that held by an agricultural aircraft, meaning that these vehicles would be restricted from operating above certain locations, such as over a populated area or at night. The potential here is truly exciting for K-State," Barnhart said.
 
Blanks said the agreement between K-State and the FAA is the first of its kind, and that the project will be a test to determine where the F38 standards need further development or may be overly prescriptive. "Successful certification of a small unmanned aircraft system using the F38 standards as a certification basis would be a giant step toward commercial use of unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system," he said. "Even if certification is unobtainable, the weaknesses of the F38 standards will be identified, greatly expediting the final development of robust, practical standards."

K-State Salina is the ideal location to test the standards, Blanks said, because of the university's expertise with unmanned aircraft systems, its close proximity to the Small Airplane Directorate in Kansas City and the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, and K-State Salina's involvement with ASTM's F38 technical committee. Blanks is chair of the F38 subcommittee for flight operations.
 
The university also will work closely with the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University throughout the project.

(Image captured from K-State video)

FMI: www.salina.k-state.edu/aviation

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Aviat A1

Airplane Bounced About 3 Ft Then Touched Back Down And Then, With No Brakes Applied, The Airplane Began Veering To The Left Analysis: The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.08.25)

Aero Linx: British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) The primary focus within all aviation activity is SAFETY. In all aspects of our sport SAFETY must come first, whether it b>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Fly Corvair’s Reliable Engine Alternative

From SnF25 (YouTube Edition): William Wynne Builds Practical Aircraft Engines on the Corvair Platform Seeking an affordable alternative to the traditional aircraft engine options, >[...]

ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV

How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: CiES Fuel-Quantity and e-Throttle Systems Praised

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Bridge of CiES CiES Inc. is a Bend, Oregon-based designer and manufacturer of modular embedded aircraft systems and sensors. The company’s fuel-l>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC